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Special THANKS to all who attended the launch of Pan School T.O. on Monday March 19th at West Humber Collegiate Institute. The objective of this workshop was to launch Pan School T.O. as a resource for Itinerant/Music Teachers and students interested in playing the steelpan.

July 1, 2017, 150 steelpannists, Indigenous, tassa, djembe & taiko drummers, brass musicians and members of No Strings Theatre came together to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday by performing the Canadian national anthem.

Trent University Durham hosted its annual Black History event on last February 27th, 2015. The event celebrated the history and culture of black peoples under the theme of Black Women Paving the Way. It was composed of three prongs; community, cultural and educational, bringing together members of the community to share their experiences and visions. The event included drumming, singing, inspirational talks, food and crafts. Among the featured performers were Afiwi Grove, All Our Relations Métis Drum Circle, steelpannist Suzette Vidale, singers Nicolle Coco LaRain and Jonie Davis. The evening culminated with the presentation of the Local Hero Award.

Celebrate the book launch of "I Love You, Grandma!" with author Sheila Mitchell, who proves that it is never too late to go after your dreams. As a grandmother herself, Sheila wrote her first children's book to celebrate grandmothers across the world, and the grandchildren who love them! http://www.harlemrestaurant.com/livemusic/2015/9/17/i-love-you-grandma-book-launch

The Barbados Ex Police organization "was born out of a desire of a number of Barbadians who once served in the Royal Barbados Police Force and wanted to maintain fellowship" with one another within the Toronto community. During the year they hold events for the community and usually raise funds to aid in the support of education for aspiring students.

Please take a moment to view the new look of the Barbados Ball Canada Aid website. http://www.barbadosballcanada.com/Our steelpan trio had the opportunity to participate in this year's elegant gala. Their mission is to support initiatives in healthcare and the education of our youth, in Canada and Barbados; and to enhance in Canada the awareness and understanding of Barbados, its people, history, culture and traditions. It was a grand night full of fabulous entertainment & information. Check out the photos by Howard Prendergast Photography. Click on images to see larger.

"CTFF, which runs alongside the Toronto International Film Festival, also features an intensive five-day Incubator Program for Caribbean and Diaspora filmmakers, followed by a Pitch Breakfast at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and many exciting networking events.

CTFF’s 2015 programming committee, consisting of movers and shakers from the Caribbean film community, has worked hard to put together a line-up that will surely WOW audiences. The festival’s uniquely themed Program consists of evenings of features and short films including Trini-to-the-Bone, a celebration of old and new Trinidad culture; Queer Caribbean, spotlighting new LGBTQ films; Shifting Perspectives, a partnership with the Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival, that focuses on mental health issues; After The Exodus, exploring themes of reparations, slavery and trafficking, and #AllBlackLivesMatter – Caribbean, that addresses in fiction and documentary the escalation of tensions between Haitians and Dominicans in the DR." #CTFF

Major John Tory announced Francis Atta as one of the torch bearers for the TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am games during a ceremony at the Ontario Science Centre. Atta (as well as Sharon Joseph) will be carrying the torch into the Driftwood Community Centre. Source

The City of Toronto is holding community events celebrate the Pan Am Games Torch Relay in Toronto. The torch relay arrived in Toronto on July 4 and will be travelling through the city until July 10 before its final stop at the Opening Ceremony for the Pan Am Games.

The community celebrations will incorporate music, performances and sport activities that highlight the Pan American culture and spirit and will be free, accessible and family-oriented. Performances include: Jerry Jerome and the Cardells, Shiamak Davar, Toronto Dance Team and Parichay.Residents and visitors will also have the opportunity to work with Mural Routes artists Sayla de Goede and Jade Greaves to create a live art mural during the event to express what the Games mean to them.The Pan Am flame will arrive at 7 p.m. and will be followed by official remarks by TO2015, government and torch relay partners. Source